By Hola Iowa
The Hola Center of Iowa serves as a resource hub for Latino and new immigrant communities, connecting families with service coordination, family support, education resources, cultural programs and free legal consultations through volunteer attorneys and interpreters.
Based in Central Iowa, the nonprofit works with Latino communities in Des Moines and across the state. Its mission is to help remove barriers that can make it harder for families to find services, understand systems or access support in Spanish or English.
The center was founded by the Iowa Department of Human Rights’ Office and Commission of Latino Affairs to respond to the need for culturally and linguistically appropriate services for Latino communities in Iowa.
A bridge between Latino families and local resources
The Hola Center describes its work through five values: connect, belong, educate, empower and unite.
Its mission focuses on connecting Latinos in Iowa with resources and opportunities by removing barriers and addressing gaps in access. The center provides support, advocacy, referrals, service coordination and trusted information for Latino and new immigrant communities.
Its vision is “thriving Latino communities in Iowa.”
That work can include helping someone identify the right office, understand an unfamiliar process, fill out forms, connect with school or childcare resources, or find another community partner that can offer more specific help.
Family support includes forms, interpretation and school resources
Family support is one of the center’s main service areas.
Through that work, the Hola Center helps people fill out forms, access interpretation and translation, find school and childcare resources, and navigate systems that may be unfamiliar.
The center also offers what it calls “soft handoffs” to community resources. In practice, that means helping connect a person or family with another organization instead of only giving them a name or phone number and leaving them to handle the next step alone.
That kind of support can be especially useful for families who are new to Iowa, have limited English access or are trying to understand school, childcare, public services or other local systems.
Programs include referrals, workshops and cultural events
The Hola Center’s programs include coordination of services, with advocacy, information, referrals, resources, workshops and classes offered in partnership with community organizations.
The center also works in education and culture. Services are available in Spanish or English, with information and resources for new immigrants, LGBTQ Latinos, and Latino and Hispanic communities.
Cultural events are also part of the center’s work, along with programming that helps families connect with community spaces and information.
Latino students and families can find college access support
The Latino College Access Network is another program connected to the Hola Center.
The program provides resources for Latino students and families in English and Spanish. Those resources include information on financial aid, tools and guidance for advocates and educators, local and national resources, scholarships and grants.
The program is designed for students and families navigating the path to college, financial aid and postsecondary opportunities.
For families where a student may be the first to go through college applications, scholarship forms or financial aid systems, that support can help make the process easier to understand.
Free legal consultations are available through volunteer attorneys
The Hola Center also provides free legal consultations through volunteer attorneys and interpreters.
The free legal clinics serve Iowans throughout the state. People who need more information about the monthly legal clinics are asked to call the Hola Center directly.
The center does not list a specific legal clinic date, eligibility rule or appointment process in its general program information. Anyone seeking legal help should contact the center before making plans or relying on availability.
The center offers services in Spanish and English
The Hola Center serves Latino and new immigrant communities in Iowa with resources available in Spanish or English.
Its services include referrals, family support, interpretation and translation, school and childcare resources, workshops, cultural programming, college access resources and free legal consultations.
Some services may depend on schedules, partnerships or clinic availability. Families should contact the Hola Center for current information before attending a clinic, workshop or program.
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